Each author makes a case for their respective theater being the deciding theater of the war, and both make convincing arguments. Both authors take very definite stands on various issues of debate in Civil War historiography. For instance, though many folks will argue that the Civil War was won (or lost) in the western theater, Simpson very adeptly argues that the East was for political/public reasons the primary theater and that the war was won in that theater. He is also very critical in his evaluation of almost every Union military officer not named Grant, and reserves a special disdain for McClellan. Woodworth is very clearly not a fan of Joseph E. Johnston, but is also very aware of the flaws of Jefferson Davis and all of the Confederate generals in the West. If anything, he gives Braxton Bragg more credit than most historians, while realizing his limitations. Like Simpson, he is also critical of the Union command save for Grant, Sherman, and a few other lesser generals.

Taken together, these two books are very good, brief overviews of each theater. Neither is longer than 140 pages, making them easy to finish in a rather short period of time. Each provides a solid view of the war without getting bogged down in details about each major battle or campaign. These books would be a good starting point for anyone wanting a quick and dirty explanation of the war.

DISCLAIMER

The following statements are solely my personal views and do not reflect the views of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources or its Division of State Historic Sites and Properties.

Look, Its Me!

Photo of me in the arms magazine at Colonial Williamsburg.

About Me

I am the Program Development and Training Officer for the North Carolina Division of State Historic Sites. I am also an Adjunct History Instructor at UNC-Pembroke, Coastal Carolina Community College, and Craven Community College. I have a BA and MA in History from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.
I am involved in living history across four time periods (French & Indian War, American Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War).
In my spare time I like to play disc golf and chase craft breweries/craft beer.
I am an avid sports fan. I am a devoted fan of the North Carolina Tarheels, the UNCW Seahawks, and all of the professional teams in Pittsburgh.